Buck Institute PBL Works Team Comes to Burke's

In the Spring of 2019, Burke's launched a multi-year project to further Project Based Learning (PBL) in our classrooms.

This work, identified as a priority in our Strategic Plan and as part of our recent CAIS Self-Study Accreditation, aims to:

  • Broaden and deepen the implementation of Project Based Learning (PBL) at Burke's across all subjects and grade levels.
  • Ensure that our students' learning from projects benefits from the research-based principles and best practices of PBL.
This year, faculty participated in a Project Slice in April and a 3-day PBL 101 workshop the week after school ended. Both sessions were led by faculty from the Buck Institute for Education's PBL Works team. Using the PBL Works model of "Gold Standard Project Based Learning," the workshops model the project design process and provide participants with the knowledge and skills needed to design, assess, and manage a rigorous, standards-based project.

The Project Slice engaged participants in an immersive PBL experience where they engaged as learners in a transformative one-day project that modeled the key features of the PBL process. Beginning with an engaging launch/entry event and authentic driving question, teams worked together to build knowledge, understanding and success skills, and develop and critique products and answers to the driving question. The day culminated with team presentations of their products, followed by structured reflection on what they have learned about PBL. 

Following up on the Project Slice, the 3-day PBL 101 workshop had the following objectives:

  • Understand the distinction between "doing projects" and Project Based Learning
  • Become familiar with online project design, assessment and management resources
  • Learn to use peer-driven feedback protocols
  • Create a standards-based project design, including key success skills, a driving question, and student products
  • Learn how to incorporate best practices in formative and summative assessment into project designs
  • Incorporate best practices in managing projects into project plans
  • Learn to use peer-driven feedback protocols
Teachers also had the option of participating in an "Idea Lab" day to work together on curriculum projects in a collaborative setting. A few of the projects included redesigning the SF flag to more inclusively represent the city's history and diverse community, math games for use in the classroom and the Makery, grappling with ways to repurpose uneaten food and developing plans for community service.

About the Burke's Professional Development Institute
Now in its sixth year, the Burke's Professional Development Institute brings leading trainers and organizations to Burke's for on-campus professional development the week after graduation. Offerings at past PDIs included an Investigations Math training, an "Inclusivity by Design" workshop, the Burke's EdTech summit, and a Service Learning Institute that integrated on-campus PD and service projects across the City.


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